Folding electric stove



Jan. 18, 1938. c. P. LENT I FOLDING ELECTRIC STOVE Filed Feb.- 11, 1936 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

wli r 5%.? w Rusv Patented Jan. 18, 1938 UNiTED STATES rATE T OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of electric stoves and particularly to a type of folding electric stove.

One object of the invention is to provide an electric stove comprising two separate electric heating, elements mounted inside a container resembling a suitcase or travelling case, the latter having two hinged sections which connect together when folded.

A further object of this invention is to provide anwelectric stove that is comparatively simple of manufacture and safe to operate.

Afurther object is toprovide a folding stove having means to enclose all operating parts, such as heating elements, wires, switches and the like within said container when the latter is folded or closed up.

A further object is to provide space within said container for the storing of utensils when said container is folded up and not in use.

Further objects will be seen as the description of the invention proceeds.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the folding stove in open position.

Fig. 2 is a section through the stove on a line 22 of Fig. 1, showing one hinged side of said stove in section and an exterior view of the opposite side section. There is also shown the wire wound slidable wire connection extending across from one'side section to the opposite side section thereof.

Fig. 3 is an outside view of the stove when in a folded or closed position.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the wire connections of both heating elements in the stove aforesaid.

Fig. 51s a section on a line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the manner of protecting the Wire connection by means of a coiled spring reinforcement.

Referring toFig. 1, the numeral I0 is the body of the folding stove proper. Said stove consists of a folding side section or member i l and an opposite side section or member i2.

The side section II and also section l2 have a flanged box like form, each section having a bottom 13 and sides l4, I5, H5, and H. The aforesaid sides of the box H are preferably formed up of a solid piece of sheet metal. As an alternative method ofmanufacture the said sheet metal may be bent up and the corners ll spot welded with angle iron reinforcements.

A top plate or tray [8 having upwardly extending side sections I9, 2B, 2!, and 22 is set over the open portion of the box sections II and I2.

The top plate I8 is provided with a flanged opening 23 into which the flange 24 projects below the top surface 25 of the plate l8 and forms a step26 as shown in Fig. 2. A heating element 21 is mounted inside the opening 23 and is held in place by means of the screw 28 which is screwed into a W-shaped bracket support 29. The said bracket support serves to support the top plate l8 and preventing the same from sagging by means of the protruding sides 30.

The top plate l8 or tray which is rectangular in shape is either held in place by means of screws 3| or spot Welded to the body of the side sections ll and 12. The said top plate is sunk below thelevel of the top edge of the respective side sections H and I2.

A switch 32 is mounted in convenient position on the'top plate l8. The switch 32 is provided with a shield plate having marks affixed thereon. Such'marks may read Off and On indicating whether the switch is on on or off position. In the event the switch 32 is of the variable type, the readings on the shield plate will correspond to the settings of said switch. lhe readings aforesaid may indicate Off, High, Med, and Low setting positions. A switch 32 similar to switch 32-is provided in section l2 to switch'current on and off for the heating element 21 The switches 32 and 52 are mounted in position below the level of the top edge of the respective sections II and I2.

The power wire 33 is connected to the stove heater element through an insulated opening 35. A reinforced spring 34 is loosely wound around the wire for added flexibility and protection against contact or abrasion.

To facilitate electrical connection from one side section to the opposite side section of said stove there is provided the wire wound insulated wire connection 31. One terminal of said wire connection enters the box section I I at the insulated opening designated as 38 (see Fig. 5) and the opposite terminal of said wire connection enters the box section l2 through the insulated opening 39. The wire wound spring reinforcement 40 is wound loosely around the insulated wire connection to protect said wire connection from wear or abrasion. spring reinforcement 40 is provided with insulated flanged terminals 4| and 42 as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

When said adjacent sections II and I2 are folded, the wire wound reinforcement section 40 of the wire connection slides through the bushing 38 (see Fig. 5) and into the inside of side section II as shown in Fig. 2, and when said adjacent sections H and I 2 are opened the wire wound reinforcement 40 slides outwardly through the bushing 38 aforesaid.

Referring to Fig. 4, the stove heating elements 2'! and 27 are wired in parallel. The main lead A multiplies into leads B and C. The current from the outside leads A flows in multiple through the lead B to switch 32 and from said switch through wire lead D to the heating element 21. Likewise, the current from the main lead A flows through lead C, wire connection 31 to the switch 32 and from thence to the heating element 21*. Both heating elements work independently of each other.

Insulated legs or the like are provided to prevent possible short circuit and also from scratching surfaces upon which the stove may rest.

There are also provided ventilating vents 44 which serve to reduce the temperature inside the stove and underneath the heating elements.

The stove box sections H and I2 can be filled up with some manner of insulated material such as asbestos or the like to prevent the overheating of the respective bottoms [3 of said box section.

Sufficient space is provided between the tray tops 58 in the event that the stove container side sections are folded to accommodate as storage a toasting rack or broiling pan, the latter being utilizable with this type of heater when the said stove is opened for operation,

A carrying handle 45 and lock 46 are provided as shown. Hinges 41 and 4B are preferably spot welded to the sides l1, ll of the side box containers l I and I2. The hinges aforesaid may also be screwed on to the side sections aforesaid.

As stated, the spring reinforcement is provided to protect the wire connection from wear or abrasion. Said spring reinforcement slides out of the box members when opened and said spring slides inward into said box members when said .box members are folded together.

In this manner the wire connection may be contained within the box members when the latter are closed, and as a consequence substantial protection to said wire connection is afforded when said stove is folded up and in shape to be carried by hand or is being transported.

It is understood that modifications from the foregoing description are possible, and I therefore do not desire to limit myself to the strict interpretation of the text aforesaid, but limiting myself only by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described comprising an electric stove having adjacent boxlike members hinged together, each member containing heating elements; an electric Wire service outlet connected into one of said boxlike members; a flexibly slidable electric connection included in the circuit with said service outlet, 2. wire winding loosely surrounding said wire connection, said flexible connection serving as a current lead for supplying current to the heating element in the box like member adjacent to the member into which the service wire is connected, said electric connection being housed when said adjacent boxlike members are folded together.

2. In a device of the class described comprising an electric stove having adjacent boxlikFmembers hinged together, each of said members containing electric heating elements, a wire service outlet connected into one of said members; a flexibly slidable connection included in the circuit with said service outlet, a wire winding loosely surrounding said wire connection, said flexibly slidable connection serving as a lead for supplying current to the heating element in the boxlike member adjacent to the member into which the service wire is connected, said electrical connection being housed when adjacent boxlike members are folded together; and individual electric switches included in said circuit for in dependently connecting or disconnecting each of said electric heatin elements to the service outlet aforesaid.

3. An electric stove of the class described comprising adjacent hinged boxlike members; a tray inside each of said members, said tray aflixed below the top edge ef each of said boxlike members; a flanged opening in each of said trays, a heating element in each of said openings, said elements held ri idly inside said openings through the medium of a bracket underneath each of said trays and said heating elements, a flexible wire wound electric wire connection for one of said heating elements, mounted across said members, said wire connection being slidably housed when said boxlike members are folded together.

4. In a device of the class described comprising a portable electric oven having two adjacent hinged boxlike members; electric heating elements included in each of said members; a flexible wire wound insulated wire connection slidably mounted between said hinged members, said wire connection being housed inside said box members when said boxlike members are closed; current controlling means for each of said heating elements contained within each of said boxlike members and means for locking and carrying said oven when said boxlike members are closed.

5. In a device of the class described comprising adjacent hinged boxlike members, a tray affixed inside of each of said members, and below the top edge thereof; a flanged opening in each of said trays, a heating element in each of said openings, a bracket support secured underneath each of said trays and heating elements mounted on said trays, a switch mounted on each of said trays, and a slidably wire wound insulated wire connection between said boxlike members for the purpose of electrically connecting said heating elements in the adjacent hinged members with an electric service outlet as set forth.

6. In a portable electric stove comprising adjacent hinged members, each of said members having heating elements therein, a service outlet connected to one of said members, branch circuits leading from said circuit to each of said heating elements, one of said branches having a slidable wire wound insulated lead, said lead contained within the inner area of said adjacent members whereby said lead may be slidably inserted and held within the inside space of said adjacent members when said members are closed, and said lead being extended when said adjacent members are opened and in position for use.

7. The structure as set forth in claim 6and switching means in each of said branch circuits for connecting and disconnecting service current flowing therein, said switching means contained within the inner area of said hinged members whereby said switching means are in ternally housed within said hinged members when said hinged members are folded.

8. In a folding electric stove having two adjacent hinged members each of said members comprising a boxlike form having sides, a bottom and an open top, a flanged tray of rectangular contour inserted inside each of said hinged members, the bottom section of said flanged trays being below the open top edge of said hinged members; openings included in the bottom section of said flanged trays, said openings having electric heating elements mounted therein; a wire lead for supplying current directly to one of said heating elements, a slidably mounted wire connection included in the circuit with said lead wire, said slidably mounted wire connection also connected to the opposite adjacent heating element to supply current thereto; and a latch and a carrying handle mounted on said hinged members for looking or securing said hinged members together thereby facilitating the carrying of the stove aforesaid.

9. In a folding electric stove having two adjacent hinged members, each of said members having a fiangelike form, each of said members having a fiangelike tray fitted therein, said flanged shaping in said trays being smaller in size than the flanged shaping of said hinged members, said flangelike trays having openings into which electric heating elements are mounted; a bracket mounted underneath each of said heating elements; heat insulating material such as asbestos or the like held in the space provided between said trays and the bottom of said hinged members; and means for conveying current to said heating elements contained in the adjacent hinged members aforesaid.

CONSTANTINE P. LENT. 

